Andrew Webster: Josh Dugan has an abudance of talent but is lacking in responsibility

JOSH Dugan is so abundantly talented that many within the NSW team believe he could own the No. 1 sky blue jumper - for as long as he wants it.

But Dugan is so abundantly fragile in the mind that many within the Penrith side were sweating on him playing for Canberra on Sunday - because they knew he would be their weakest link.

Accordingly, the Panthers were merciless with their sledging of the wayward fullback. That nails Dugan in one - a player considered good enough to play Origin on one hand, but not strong enough in the head to handle the Panthers on the other.

Even those closest to Dugan are saying there is every chance he has played his last match for Canberra, which is heartbreaking for all concerned. He is the heavily tattooed, rats-tailed Tuggeranong junior, who rose from housing commission to a superstar earning comparisons to Brett Mullins.

It had the hallmarks of the perfect rugby league story. One that will not come to be.

Dugan might not think much of coach David Furner, but he can guarantee his Raiders teammates have had enough of him.

His partner in crime - or at least rooftop drinking sessions - might be Blake Ferguson, but the difference is those around the centre feel that while he might have issues off the field, he never shirks his responsibilities on it.

Raiders management were rightly furious yesterday morning when they picked up the local paper to see social media photos of the pair on the front page, drinking alcohol during a long bender, with Dugan sticking his finger up in one shot and wearing a hat branded "Cocaine and Caviar" in another.

Twitter. Instagram. Facebook.

A week before the season started, Canberra's media department had lectured the playing group about the pitfalls of social media.

It shows as much about Dugan's attitude as his attention span.

Just before 9am yesterday, the fullback posted this on Twitter: "This goes beyond the drinking while injured. Yes I've broken team rules but for me it goes deeper and I plan on sorting it out ... I apologise to my team-mates and the fans but this is personal and needs to be sorted out as soon as possible for me to move forward."

Many misread it as a cry for help; that Dugan was descending into the same dark place as sidelined Bulldogs star Ben Barba. Others reckoned the correct spelling and punctuation suggested someone else had posted them, and not Dugan.

But those at the Raiders, who have offered Dugan counselling before but to no avail, saw it for what it was.

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